The economic and political conditions are in place for bank-credit union mergers to blow past last year's total of 13 despite the banking industry's strong opposition to them.

The nation’s sixth-largest bank will offer a $750 line of credit to customers who need short-term liquidity, and will gradually become less reliant on older accounts that charge the controversial fees. With the plans, Truist is moving in the same direction as many large and midsize banks.

Traditional banks could be forced to add cryptocurrency product offerings in 2022 to compete with fintechs that are taking advantage of blockchain innovations, according to Diogo Mónica, co-founder and president of Anchorage.

A group of community banks and two major trade associations have formed a partnership with and invested in the fintech NYDIG to offer the service on the banks’ mobile apps by midyear. The banks say it will help them generate revenue and retain customers interested in cryptocurrency.

The companies originally hoped to complete the deal in late 2021. The buyer chalked up the delay to an overburdened Federal Reserve, rather than any problems with its application.

It has also taken a stake in Rêv Worldwide, developer of the bank's cross-border traveler account that supports currencies including the U.S. dollar, the euro and the Mexican peso.

Year to date through Sep. 30, 2021. Dollars in thousands.

Citigroup, which has been shedding some of its retail operations as part of a global revamp, is in advanced talks with Taiwan’s Fubon Financial Holding for a sale of its mainland China consumer business, people familiar with the matter said.

Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser is nearing the end of her organizational overhaul after deciding to cut loose retail-banking operations in Mexico. She will make the case at an upcoming investor day that the company is on the verge of producing stronger shareholder returns.

Auto loans, credit cards and corporate lending all showed strength in the fourth quarter, and the San Francisco bank predicts more consumers and businesses will borrow this year.

David Felan was most recently an executive vice president at Texas Capital Bancshares. In his new role, he will oversee the Kansas bank's expansion in the Lone Star State's hottest markets.

Under an agreement with 40 state attorneys general, the student lender and servicer agreed to cancel debt for over 66,000 borrowers and pay restitution to another 350,000 borrowers placed in certain types of forbearance.

Challenger banks like Chime and Dave have been helping customers avoid overdraft fees for years. As traditional banks start to do the same, the fintechs say they still offer consumers a better deal.

OneUnited's new installment-loan product is meant to break customers out of a cycle of debt. It will compete with similar offerings from heavyweights like Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Huntington.

The branches will provide services in clients’ preferred languages and employ local residents. Executives say the strategy will help M&T pull in new customers at a time when nonwhite populations are expanding.

Banco Santander is among lenders exploring bids for Citigroup’s retail banking operations in Mexico, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

A U.S. central bank digital currency is coming, and what form it takes could spell opportunity — or trouble — for the banking industry.

The standard charge for customers who overdraw their accounts is $30 or more. Analysts say one megabank’s decision to slash the price will pressure competitors to take similar steps.

Citigroup announced Tuesday that it plans to exit retail banking in Mexico, less than a year after Fraser said “there’s a lot to like in the franchise over the longer term.” She explains her new thinking.

The Louisiana-based company is among a growing number of community banks that have taken on new talent in the wake of competitors' consolidation.